Closure device



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March 21, 1967 w. s. c. CHIN CLOSURE DEVICE Filed Dec. 17, 1965 N WEN '1 01%. Wasps-y 5.1: CHIN United States Patent 3,309,742 CLOSURE DEVICE Vlesley S. C. Chin, P.O. Box 8412, Los Angeles, Calif. 90008 Filed Dec. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 514,465 1 Claim. (Cl. 24-305) This invention relates to closure devices and particularly to such devices that are adapted to close soft plastic bags, and particularly to grip and close an open mesh bag.

Packaging of foods and other items in flexible bags, particularly the type of bag that will provide a hermetic seal, has received considerable attention from the developers. However, the devices for closing bags are generally directed to the concept of causing a tight closure against air and moisture.

Mesh bags do not always conform to the behaviour patterns of film bags. Closure devices which have tooth bars to provide gripping and closing of film bags, sometimes provide uneven entanglement of mesh bags.

The deficiencies of the prior art are overcome by the present invention. This invention provides a detachable device in a two-part construction and is readily applied as a closure for mesh bags. Moreover, it is economical and simple to manufacture. As an added feature, the closure member is removable from such bags or like devices without being destroyed and is, therefore, available for reuse innumerable times.

It is an object of this invention to provide a closure device that is readily applied to a mesh bag to close the access opening thereof, and one which may be quickly removed to permit access to the contents of the bag.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a closure device which engages substantially the entire neck portion of the bag from all accessible directions.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a closure device from which a bag is immediately freed after removing one of the two-part members from the other, without additional steps of disentanglement to free the mesh bag from retaining teeth and the like.

In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the best mode contemplated for the present invention is disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view of the two-part detachable closure device of this invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section through the two-part closure device with a mesh bag engaged therein.

Referring to the figures of the drawing, the invention is illustrated in the form of a two-part closure device embodying a closed loop-shaped bridle member 10, and a locking sleeve 12.

The bridle 16 is generally composed of two opposed legs 13, joined in spaced relationship by means of a key wedge wall 16 in order to provide an opening between the legs through which the open end of a bag may be inserted.

A top ridge 18 of the key wedge wall 16 provides a smooth seat at the lower portion of the joined legs 13. This seat ridge 18 is somewhat curved and smooth in order not to entangle a mesh bag, or pierce and tear a thin film bag.

A plurality of longitudinally-spaced deformable tooth hooks 20 project from opposite sides of the legs 13 in an outward direction. Considering the wedge wall 16 as the bottom portion of bridle 10, both the top and bottom surfaces of each of the teeth slope downwardly, but angle slightly toward one another to produce rounded, narrow ends 21 and heavy base portions 22.

The sleeve 12 has an opening 24 therethrough more narrow than that of the width between the extreme ends 21 on opposite sides of the legs, and preferably the opening should be no wider than the external surface of the legs 13 where the base portions 22 of teeth 20 join the legs. If anything, the opening 24 should be somewhat smaller than this diameter. A larger opening 26 is formed on the opposite end of the sleeve, and, therefore, the sleeve is characerized by a flared skirt configuration.

The collar 12 is adjustable lengthwise along the legs to deform the legs inwardly as the small opening 24 acts as a cam on the upper surface of the teeth 20. It includes a peripheral edge 30, defined about the opening 24, to provide additional strength for the required cam action. The opening 24 thus reinforced is adjustably engageable with the tooth projections 20 in that the sleeve is moved downwardly as far as the bulk of a trapped bag will allow, with respect to the various ones of the plurality of teeth.

To engage a mesh bag in a lock grip, a plurality of through openings 32 are provided in the key wedge wall 16, and a matching set of conical projections 34 are carried on the inner surface of the sleeve 12. Note that the through openings 32 are vertically aligned, as are the projections 34 in order that there may be partial, if not full, engagement of all the projections, according to the bulk of the bag which is being held. That is, a more bulky bag will prevent the sleeve 12 from seating fully. Therefore, less than the full number of the projections 34 may be engaged into the rows of openings 32.

Projections 34 are intended to entangle a mesh bag whether or not the bag makes a bulk great enough to prevent the actual entry of the projections into holes 32. The projections are related to the teeth 20 such that the lateral rows of projections will register with rows of the holes 32, and, therefore, the projections are positioned to enter the holes. If the bag being closed is thin, the bag may be penetrated and the projections actually locked into the holes. This is helpful if very thin bags are being closed. But if the bag is thick, and particularly if of mesh, the grip will be assured even though the projections do not reach the holes.

Stop means 36, in the form of a small rounded knob, are placed on opposite sides of the legs longitudinally spaced from the teeth and engageable by the peripheral collar ridge 30 to limit the lengthwise adjustment of the bridle member relative to the collar member in the event that a very fine bag is employed, and'also to prevent loss of the sleeve when the closure device is not in use.

The material from which the bridle 10 and the sleeve 12 are made may be selected among a number of the modern materials commonly referred to as plastics. These materials are now available in many qualities and characteristics and may be selected to fulfill a large range of desired requirements.

Generally, the material must be sufliciently flexible that the conical projections 34, the teeth 20, and legs 13 may be repeated flexed over severe bending curvatures without rupture, whether at low or high temperatures. Thus, the closure may be used repeatedly.

Whereas the present invention has been shown and described herein in what is conceived to be the best mode contemplated, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention which is, therefore, not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be afforded the full scope of the. invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is: p

A detachable closure device to close the open end of a bag, comprising:

a closed, loop-shaped bridle member, including a plurality of oppositely-disposed legs joined in spaced relationship to provide an opening therebetween through which the open end of a bag may be inserted, a wall having a smooth seat surface bridging between the lower portion of the joined legs;

a plurality of longitudinally-spaced deformable hooks projecting from opposite sides of said legs, the supper surface of each of the hooks being sloped downwardly and the bottom surface thereof being sloped downwardly and outwardly to an apex with the upper surface to form a root of larger dimension than the apex of the hook;

a sleeve member having an opening t-herethrough narrower than that of the width extent between the apexes of the said deformable hooks on the legs and adjustable lengthwise along said legs to deform the hooks in order to engage the sleeve to the hooks;

said sleeve member including a peripheral ridge means defined about said opening adjustably engageable with said hooks to prevent the removal of said bridle member from said sleeve opening;

a plurality of aligned through-openings in said well bridging bet-ween said leg means, and a plurality of horizontally-disposed projections on the inner surface of said sleeve member in a spaced relationship corresponding to the relationship of said openings to lock a bag end by impaling the bag by said projections; and

stop means on said legs longitudinally spaced from said hooks and engageable by said peripheral sleeve ridge to limit the lengthwise adjustment of said bridle member relative to said sleeve member, said engagement of said sleeve member with said lateral hook projections being releasable by inward deformation of said legs.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,951,273 9/ 1960 Brenker 24-305 3,002,240 10/ 1961 Laguerre 2430.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 78,480 4/ 1894 Germany;

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

MILTON S. MEHR, Examiner. 

